In a videoconference between the Virtual Institute (Vi) and its Brazilian core member, the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), on 12 November, UNCTAD's Alfredo Calcagno presented the findings of the Trade and Development Report (TDR) 2009 to an interested audience of professors and students.

Calcagno, Senior Economic Affairs Officer at UNCTAD's Division of Globalization and Development Strategies, elaborated on the channels through which the crisis has spread from developed to developing economies, the short-term policy responses taken by governments, and the demand for fundamental reforms at the national and international levels. He also stressed the need for effective climate change mitigation, and emphasized the development and growth opportunities for emerging countries related to greening the economy.

EAFIT University's Virtual Institute member coordinator, Sascha Fuerst (pictured, right), has handed over the reins of the Colombian network to Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez, head of EAFIT's international business department.and director of its research group in international studies.

Gonzalez-Perez holds a PhD in economics and management from the National University of Ireland (NUI) at Galway. In 2007, she was a postdoctoral researcher in the area of civic engagement in higher education in the Community Knowledge Initiative at NUI, and she has a long track of international publications, conference interventions and research activity in five continents.

Long-time member coordinator Fuerst, led the process of EAFIT's admission into the Vi in June 2006, and built the Colombian Vi network of 12 universities, which later became the Vi's first affiliate members.

UNCTAD's videoconference presentation of the Information Economy Report (IER) 2009 sparked great interest among the Uruguayan government, business representatives, journalists, professors, and students.

The conference between the Vi and its Uruguayan core member, University of the Republic (UDELAR), on 28 November featured presentations by UNCTAD's Scarlett Fondeur Gil and Marcel Vaillant, Vi member coordinator and currently a Vi fellow. While stressing that the digital divide between developed and developing countries remains, the presenters explicated the significance of mobile telephony, Internet, and broadband Internet access as development tools, taking into account the particular circumstances in Latin America and Uruguay.

We are glad to inform you that our department of World Economy, Faculty of Economics, St. Petersburg State University, is launching a semester program, "Russia in Global Political and Economic Arena," taught in English.

The program consists of four modules: History and Culture of Russia; Russia in Global Affairs; Economic issues in Contemporary Russia; and Doing business in Russia.

The Virtual Institute's Latin American joint project on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), funded by the Government of Spain, will present its findings on November 19 at a workshop co-organized with Vi Colombian member, EAFIT University.

Researchers from universities in Spain, Uruguay, Colombia and Chile will gather in Medellín to share the results of four of the five research papers included in the Spanish-sponsored project. The discussion will also count with the expertise of Anthony Miller, of UNCTAD's Division on Investment and Enterprise.